The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-01
UNLAWFUL PERQUISITES
A Story of Senate Stationery Voucher
Detailing Queer Proceedings.
The Peculiar Action and Its Attending Cir
cumstances Relating to the Supplies for
Reporter at the States Expense.

the du1OuFument OF Inc Uen6r6' Assembly, Liz
with the Secretary of the State the journals of
their respective houses, and copies of such jour
nails shall be furnished to the printer from
which to print the same. The complete journal
of the last House OF Representatives, including
the last days proceedings. we'll as the first,
has been turned over to the State officer named.
So has the Senate journal, except the record re-
lating to business on the closing day. Assistant
Secretary of the Senate John D. Carter has been
requested repeatedly to bring in the missing
record, but he has paid no attention to it, ex-
cept, as reported, by stating that the complete
Senate journal is in the hands of the public
printer The Public Printer says he has it, but
the Secretary of State cannot get it to complete
the journal in his possession.
1t was late in the afternoon of this last day of
up his resolution to make Wrn. H. DRAPER the
stenographer of that body. 1t was introduced
the preceding Saturday. but Senators Tharp and
Sellers opposed it and its friends were not in
clined to push the matter. When brought for
ward again the resolution came in the midst of
confusion attending the closing hours of the
session, and nobody paid any attention to it. 1t
was rushed through, and under this action VIM.
II. DRAPER claims to be sthe stenographer Of
the Senate" 1t is said be took the oath to dis
charge the duties Of such position, but of neither
the passage OF the resolution nor of his taking
the oath is there any official record in the Secre
tary of States office. where the law, without
qualification says it must be within ten days
after the General Assembly adjourns" While he
claims to be the stenographer of the Senate" the
last sentence of the resolution. which, to make
it valid as a State expense should have been by
concurrent action, seeks to make him, by indi
rection, the stenographer of both houses. 1t
| reads Tho Bureau of Printing is directed to
have said reports bound as heretofore by the
State, and said stenographer is directed to for
ward ten copies to each member of the General
Assembly" Upon this only does DRAPER hope
to hold the next General Assembly TO making an
| appropriation for his services during the past
session. That the Senate itself had conf
| dence in its ability to create an Office by a sim
pie resolution is shown in Its act of early in the
session passing resolution looking to the draft
| ing OF bill to make the stenograDher an official
| of its body. The bill was introduced, and was
| recommended by the finance committee for pass
| age, but it got no further than this stage. The
| Senate thus recognized the force of the Supreme
Court decision, which virtually held that an Of
| fcer of this kind can only be paid by concurrent
| action of the two bodies.
F.! 1t is we'll to keep in mind that this Mcdonald
resolution passed late in the afternoon of March
| Z, and on the same day the following requisition
| was sent to the contractor of State stationery:
SENATE ORDER FOR STATIONERY.
THE STATE OF INDIANA
(Session 1879
| Commissioners No. 159. Register p. CT.
INDIANAPoLIs March z, 1887.
| To William B. Burford contractor for the public
printing, binding and stationery Please furnish for
the of Senate at the expense of the State the
| ticles of stationery described as follows:
Three reams blank letter-paper.
One box large envelopes.
Three reams thin blank letter paper
One box small envelopes
Four qr,ires half carbon paper. letter size.
One-haf gross rubbertipped pencils
| One wire paper fastener and wires.
The same being for the use and on account of the
| stenographer of the Senate. WEBSTER DIXON.
Secretary of the Senate.
| A G. SMITH President Senate.
Received of the contractor for public printing bind
ing and stationery the set forth IN the
| March Z, 1887.
| When first presented, Mr. Burford, the con-
| tractor, says the requlsition was signed only by
the supplies until Green Smith placed his
| signature to it. The paper was taken back to
! the Senate, and Smith signed it. The articles
| were then furnished as charged in the following
| bill rendered to the State:
To WILLIAM B. BURFORD. DR..
| Contractor for Public Printing. Binding and Sta
| 1887. tonery
To articles of stationery furnished. authorized by
| the foregoing order. as per contract as follows;
! March Three reams of II ID letter paper
blocked So. So
| Five hundred No 10 envelopes. las
Three reams linen paper blocked. $50
| Five hundred No. envelopes. LOO
| One-half gross lead pencils, rubber
| head q III
| size --...-..f-...A.. 500
One machine for paper fasteners. 15C
| One box of wire paper fasteners. 40
Total .-...-..................$2 6 Is
| MARCH rs, 1887.
certify that the contractor has delivered the sta
tionery specified in the foregoing bill of account
per receipt herewith. and that the foregoing bill there
| for is correct according to contract.
G. A. BoOKwALTER.
Clerk of Bureau of Public Printing. Binding and
Stationery.
Mr.. Burford says that his account fills the de-
scrption of the articles called for in the requi
sition. That the latter calling for ''three reams